Photos: Mount Fuji climbing season begins

Buddhika Weerasinghe, Getty Images07.12.2013

Japanese school students attend a purification ritual as they pray during the annual ceremony of opening Mount Fuji for the public at Murayama Sengen Shrine on July 1, 2013 in Fujinomiya, Japan. The newly-listed world heritage Japanese icon, Mount Fuji, opened to the public for two months. According to officials, approximately 300,000 climbers visit the mountain in the months of July and August with expectations numbers will reach as high as 350,000.

Buddhika Weerasinghe
/ Getty Images

Yamabushi, Japanese Buddhist monks perform a sacred fire ritual during the official opening ceremony of Mount Fuji climbing season at Murayama Sengen Shrine on July 1, 2013 in Fujinomiya, Japan. The newly-listed world heritage Japanese icon, Mount Fuji, opened to the public for two months. According to officials, approximately 300,000 climbers visit the mountain in the months of July and August with expectations numbers will reach as high as 350,000.Buddhika Weerasinghe
/ Getty Images

Yamabushi, a Japanese Buddhist monk, cuts ritually a rope to mark the annual ceremony of opening Mount Fuji for the public at Murayama Sengen Shrine on July 1, 2013 in Fujinomiya, Japan. The newly-listed world heritage Japanese icon, Mount Fuji, opened to the public for two months. According to officials, approximately 300,000 climbers visit the mountain in the months of July and August with expectations numbers will reach as high as 350,000.Buddhika Weerasinghe
/ Getty Images

Yamabushi, Japanese Buddhist monks, climb the Mount Fuji to mark the annual ceremony of opening Mount Fuji for the public at Murayama Sengen Shrine on July 1, 2013 in Fujinomiya, Japan. TThe newly-listed world heritage Japanese icon Mount Fuji, opened to the public for two months. According to officials, approximately 300,000 climbers visit the mountain in the months of July and August with expectations numbers will reach as high as 350,000.Buddhika Weerasinghe
/ Getty Images

A Japanese man attends a purification ritual during the annual ceremony of opening Mount Fuji for the public at Murayama Sengen Shrine on July 1, 2013 in Fujinomiya, Japan. The newly-listed world heritage Japanese icon, Mount Fuji, opened to the public for two months. According to officials, approximately 300,000 climbers visit the mountain in the months of July and August with expectations numbers will reach as high as 350,000.Buddhika Weerasinghe
/ Getty Images

Yamabushi, Japanese Buddhist monks, climb the Mount Fuji to mark the annual ceremony of opening Mount Fuji for the public at Murayama Sengen Shrine on July 1, 2013 in Fujinomiya, Japan. The newly-listed world heritage Japanese icon, Mount Fuji, opened to the public for two months. According to officials, approximately 300,000 climbers visit the mountain in the months of July and August with expectations numbers will reach as high as 350,000.Buddhika Weerasinghe
/ Getty Images

A man climbs Mount Fuji through the mist on July 1, 2013 in Fujinomiya, Japan. The newly-listed world heritage Japanese icon, Mount Fuji, opened to the public for two months. According to officials, approximately 300,000 climbers visit the mountain in the months of July and August with expectations numbers will reach as high as 350,000.Buddhika Weerasinghe
/ Getty Images

A man climbs Mount Fuji through the mist on July 1, 2013 in Fujinomiya, Japan. The newly-listed world heritage Japanese icon, Mount Fuji, opened to the public for two months. According to officials, approximately 300,000 climbers visit the mountain in the months of July and August with expectations numbers will reach as high as 350,000.Buddhika Weerasinghe
/ Getty Images

Yamabushi, Japanese Buddhist monks, pray as ritual during the annual ceremony of opening Mount Fuji for the public at Murayama Sengen Shrine on July 1, 2013 in Fujinomiya, Japan. The newly-listed world heritage Japanese icon, Mount Fuji, opened to the public for two months. According to officials, approximately 300,000 climbers visit the mountain in the months of July and August with expectations numbers will reach as high as 350,000.Buddhika Weerasinghe
/ Getty Images

People climb Mount Fuji through the mist on July 1, 2013 in Fujinomiya, Japan. The newly-listed world heritage Japanese icon, Mount Fuji, opened to the public for two months. According to officials, approximately 300,000 climbers visit the mountain in the months of July and August with expectations numbers will reach as high as 350,000.Buddhika Weerasinghe
/ Getty Images

Yamabushi, a Japanese Buddhist monk, cuts ritually a rope to mark the annual ceremony of opening Mount Fuji for the public at Murayama Sengen Shrine on July 1, 2013 in Fujinomiya, Japan. The newly-listed world heritage Japanese icon, Mount Fuji, opened to the public for two months. According to officials, approximately 300,000 climbers visit the mountain in the months of July and August with expectations numbers will reach as high as 350,000.Buddhika Weerasinghe
/ Getty Images

Japanese women perform traditional dance during the official opening ceremony of Mount Fuji climbing season begins at Sengentaisha Shrine on July 1, 2013 in Fujinomiya, Japan. The newly-listed world heritage Japanese icon, Mount Fuji, opened to the public for two months. According to officials, approximately 300,000 climbers visit the mountain in the months of July and August with expectations numbers will reach as high as 350,000.Buddhika Weerasinghe
/ Getty Images

Julia Longbottom deputy head of mission British embassy(L) attends official opening ceremony of Mount Fuji climbing season begins at Sengentaisha Shrine on July 1, 2013 in Fujinomiya, Japan. The newly-listed world heritage Japanese icon, Mount Fuji, opened to the public for two months. According to officials, approximately 300,000 climbers visit the mountain in the months of July and August with expectations numbers will reach as high as 350,000.Buddhika Weerasinghe
/ Getty Images

Japanese women perform traditional dance during the official opening ceremony of Mount Fuji climbing season begins at Sengentaisha Shrine on July 1, 2013 in Fujinomiya, Japan. The newly-listed world heritage Japanese icon, Mount Fuji, opened to the public for two months. According to officials, approximately 300,000 climbers visit the mountain in the months of July and August with expectations numbers will reach as high as 350,000.Buddhika Weerasinghe
/ Getty Images

Japanese shrine priest bless Julia Longbottom deputy head of mission British embassy (second from left) and local government officers during the official opening ceremony of Mount Fuji climbing season begins at Sengentaisha Shrine on July 1, 2013 in Fujinomiya, Japan. The newly-listed world heritage Japanese icon, Mount Fuji, opened to the public for two months. According to officials, approximately 300,000 climbers visit the mountain in the months of July and August with expectations numbers will reach as high as 350,000.Buddhika Weerasinghe
/ Getty Images

A Japanese fireworks performer set off fireworks to celebrate annual opening of Mount Fuji for the public at Sengentaisha Shrine on July 1, 2013 in Fujinomiya, Japan. The newly-listed world heritage Japanese icon, Mount Fuji, opened to the public for two months. According to officials, approximately 300,000 climbers visit the mountain in the months of July and August with expectations numbers will reach as high as 350,000.Buddhika Weerasinghe
/ Getty Images

A Japanese fireworks performer set off fireworks to celebrate annual opening of Mount Fuji for the public at Sengentaisha Shrine on July 1, 2013 in Fujinomiya, Japan. The newly-listed world heritage Japanese icon, Mount Fuji, opened to the public for two months. According to officials, approximately 300,000 climbers visit the mountain in the months of July and August with expectations numbers will reach as high as 350,000.Buddhika Weerasinghe
/ Getty Images

Yamabushi, Japanese Buddhist monks perform a sacred fire ritual during the official opening ceremony of Mount Fuji climbing season at Murayama Sengen Shrine on July 1, 2013 in Fujinomiya, Japan. The newly-listed world heritage Japanese icon, Mount Fuji, opened to the public for two months. According to officials, approximately 300,000 climbers visit the mountain in the months of July and August with expectations numbers will reach as high as 350,000.Buddhika Weerasinghe
/ Getty Images

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